I know the title of this blog is Reading on the Toilet, a cheeky homage to the tradition of grabbing a little quiet reading time on the commode, but...now there's a new reason to lock yourself in the John.
Kindle Vella!
Amazon has launched it's all-new serial reading service, Kindle Vella. Vella is Amazon jumping on the episodic book bandwagon. Essentially, authors release a book one episode at a time (chapters). The first three chapters are free on Vella. After that, it costs readers tokens to unlock the next episodes. You can purchase tokens in packs. They're inexpensive. It costs $1.99 for 200 tokens and $4.99 for 525. As a first time user, Amazon is even giving readers their first 200 tokens FREE. This is good news for readers but not so good news for the authors. Readers can LIKE each episode and even write a review for the entire story (or part of the story). Once a week, with the use of tokens to unlock episodes, readers can also crown their favorite story of the week.
All that aside, I've been reading some of the stories. The ones so far that have earned my tokens to read all the way through currently published episodes are listed below.
In the Hood - Tales from Beyond the End by Margaret Madigan
This is a dystopian apocalyptic tale that feels like The Walking Dead meets a dark, romantic suspense. The two main characters, Robyn and Mac, are from different survivor camps. It's every man for himself in a world where society has collapsed and the zombies are evolving from mindless brain eaters into cunning predators. I'm six episodes in (and just saw a 7th is now available...Yay!). Well worth your tokens. This story is well-written, engaging, dark, suspenseful, and yet still romantic, but in a sad, it'll never work kind of way.
This one gets four out of four plies in a two-ply TP world.
Wicked Riffs: A Rockstar Romance by K.B. Lee
I didn't know what I was getting myself into with this one but damn if it didn't grab me by the scruff of my neck and pull me right in. Wicked Riffs is a club where musicians with stars in their eyes go to make their dreams come true. Think Whisky-A-Go-Go on Sunset Blvd. Bowie is the rock god (in his own mind) that draws the crowd. Long hair, attitude for days, sexy bad boy type. Although backed by a band he feels he IS the band. Harlow has the voice and despite being a background singer, is not meant to blend into the background. She and Bowie are fresh off a hot love affair that went bust due to his cheating and jealousy over her vocal abilities. And then there is Jaxx, a young man with songwriting skills who thinks Harlow is the one to launch his songs into the world. There's a whole production going on in this one. You can almost here the sizzling guitar licks, the roar of the crowd, and even smell the cigarette smoke, spilled drinks, and vomit in the back halls. Another one worthy of your tokens.
Three out of four plies. Might be more as I sink deeper into it. I'm only four episodes in and about to jump into the fifth.
Wolf (Stope Packs #1) by Rebecca Zanetti
A murder mystery with an animalistic twist. Yep, a wolf shifter tale but the shifter aspect takes a supporting role to both the murder mystery and the two main characters brought together in this dark tale. So very well told. I did not know Zanetti before this story but I've discovered she's quite well known in paranormal romance. I'm a new fan. The entire story is available, so no waiting for the next episode. Only thing of note is some editing issues. Seems a bit rushed to get it all out there, and editing was bypassed. Still worthy of your time and tokens. The story is too good. It's possible this one will find its way into a single ebook down the road. That's another caveat with Kindle Vella. Authors can publish their work in its entirety thirty days after the last episode is published (last episode in the epic where an author wishes to bundle). If you love paranormal romantic suspense, Seth and Mia's story in Wolf is your next favorite.
Four out of four plies for a solid, entertaining story.
Returned (SECTION 5, Book 1) by Michele E. Gwynn
A science fiction investigative mystery! Special Agents Roger Otis and Niall Alchurch are paired up in a top secret government division to investigate coordinates mysteriously received by the bureau that lead to the discovery of bodies. Some dead, some alive, all have been missing without a trace for years, even decades. This is a darker, twistier X-Files meets Stephen King creep show. New episodes every Thursday, so the serialization is taken seriously by this author. It just keeps getting deeper. Who is providing the coordinates? Not sure I want to know...but I need to know. Token worthy for the fans of dark, possibly alien mystery.
Psychic Connection by Jami Brumfield
Fans of Brumfield know her paranormal writing chops. She has written psychic connection stories before and if you've read her PBI Files series, you know she can weave a tale. In her Vella venture, Ashley Goodmore is manifesting the long-hidden family trait in a frightening way. The dead are appearing...and speaking to her. In need of her help, these spirits seek her out and lead her into harrowing danger in pursuit of justice...for their murders. There's also a bit of a romantic love triangle happening behind the scenes further complicating Ashley's life. If it's not the dead, it's the living, am I right? Spend those tokens and check this one out.
Four out of four plies.
Most aren't sure yet of what to make of Vella, but for me, it's like a cache of awesome new shows/episodes the likes of which Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and more need to start paying attention to. This is a veritable smorgasbord of hit tv scripts. Lucky for you, you don't need to add another streaming service to your monthly bills. Just go get yourself some tokens and start reading. You're welcome.
Oh, and don't forget to flush. (The Glade is under the sink)
